GPSlim236 TomTom 5 reports 'No Valid GPS Signal' - Solution!

astyy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 27, 2006 Posts: 15

Hi I've been trying for a couple of days to setup a Holux GPSlim236 with TomTom 5 on an XDA Mini S (Wizard), then an XDA S (Blue Angel) and then an XDA2i (Alpine). All with the same result, it appeared to be connecting in TomTom 5 with 'Other Bluetooth GPS' 'Bluetooth port COM6' ie ball spinning but no UTC, no fix and it always reporting 'No Valid GPS Signal' - I got this on each XDA model I tested in turn and couldnt even get the Holux sample GPS prog to work. I was convinced that the Bluetooth bonding/pairing was correct and this indicated by the Bluetooth light flashing approx every 3s.

Anyway it turns out that the GPS was in SIRF mode eventhough it's blinking signal light was reporting otherwise (it was bought from Hong Kong which may have a bearing), I think it is supposed to flash 3 times per second in SIRF. Mike Adler has been very helpful by email and suggested I use the TomTom 3 - GPS V307 program to set the GPS mode from 'Bluetooth SIRF' to 'Bluetooth NMEA 0183V2', within this program you can then see it connect using the new setting. Easy when you know how!

I've posted this here for other peoples future reference as it has caused me many hours of frustration.

mrharrod · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 2

So, your saying that if I buy a GR-236, I cant use TOMTOM 5 with it!?

alix776 · Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:16 pm Post subject:

no you will be able to use a gr 236 with tomtom 5 it works fine

are you sure youve set the correct comport in the gps setting and with the mini s have you set the correct outgoing port in bluetooth settings

als make sure the gps viewer is not running when you start tomtom
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

mrharrod · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 2

Great stuff! becuase I bought one 2hrs before I read this post and started to wet myself with fear....hmm...right...ok...thanks.

8)

meestermartinho · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:49 am Post subject:

I would uninstall the gps viewer supplied on CD as it plays havoc with tomtom.

astyy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 27, 2006 Posts: 15

Sorry to cause alarm - I think that my problem was quite obscure specific to the way that my GPS was operating as shipped - I posted the initial note in the spirit of recording the 'fix' for future reference for others.

Anyway the little beauty is now running fine with all my XDA's with TomTom 3 and 5. I have a cigar charger in the boot of my car so using the Holux supplied cable I just leave it their and I can even use it from my inside my house in the room close to where the car is parked.

What is a bit strange is that now I've bought a second GLSlim 236 and the XDA's that I've used with the first one get very confused when I try to Bluetooth pair them with the new one. Even if I delete the initial pair, when it discovers the device it says 'The device does not offer any usable services.' and it doesnt offer me the SPP service.

So far I have found that if I completely hard - reset the PDA (e.g the XDA2i) and bond from scratch with the new one it's fine.

I don't understand this, it appears than when you delete a Bluetooth pairing and then create a new pair with exactly the same type of device it gets confused. Nothing surprises me with Bluetooth and XDA's.

Regards
Aston

astyy · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 27, 2006 Posts: 15

PS Holux GPS View app, I agree with previous poster - dont install this at all.

Create your bluetooth pairing, you will know that this is working because the GPS bluetooth light 'slows' to 1 flash every 3s.

Then check your PDA is talking to the GPS properly using the TomTom GPS interface to check the connection and reception.

mikealder · Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject:

Aston, the names will be the same (for each GPS unit i.e. GPSlim236) re-name one of them, and I would also sugest you use tipex or similar to be able to distinguish between the two devices, once this is done you will be able to connect to either GPS unit from the PDA - The only problem with this is that the TomTom on the Mini-S requires the GPS on a specific port (Com 7) so while you can connect to both or either devices I am not too sure if TomTom will be capable of seeing the alternate 236 - I don't have a Mini-S to hand to give this a try - sorry - Mike

Boxxer · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 04, 2006 Posts: 2

Hi,

I am just got my Holux 236. I am using it with tomtom 5 on my palm and I have the same problem.

It said "no valid signal".

It has definitely paired with my plam/tomtom, otherwise it will say "no GPS device".

What did you do make it work?? The GPS light on the Holus 236 is blinking, so I guess it has found its position, and the blutooth light is blinking once in a three second.

This is very frustrating..... 8O

ItsMikeE · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 10:23 am Post subject:

Can't remember if it is the same error message, but I have had to soft reset the Palm a couple of times before it would recognise the GPS connection.

coolwave · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1

hi
I had the same problam when I first got thr Holux gr 236slim and tom tom navigator 5
I found it some how dosnt want to connect as a bluetooth receiver instead it has no problem connecting as ( other cable NMEA gps ) set the bit rate to 38400 and you will be fine
hope that helps

OllieL · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2006 Posts: 7

Hi just been reading this thread and i just wanted to clarify something before i too buy 236.
My Dads original tomtom bluetooth reciever was stolen from his car so thought that this would be a good and cheaper alternative replacement to work with tomtom mobile 5 running on a nokia 6680.
Will this system work together or will I be left experiencing the same problem as other users using tomtom?
Also worreid about the "batch probelm" people have been experiencing with the bluetooth on this unit.
Any other suggestions for a reliable unit?
Thanks
Ollie

alix776 · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:35 pm Post subject:

it seams that if you go through an otside uk seller then you may have support problems. if you go through a uk agent or from holux themselves then you shouldnt have any problems it should work fine with the nokia
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

OllieL · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 19, 2006 Posts: 7

Ah ok
I was originally thinking on buying from ebay as it seemed far cheaper, will this just cause me problems then?

alix776 · Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject:

it may not cause you problems some members have had problems with grey imports of holux products others havent. some that have had problems have had the seller sdaying tuff im not interested in which case they have had to get in touch with in tiawan and have had to send them back to tiawan. it a risk you take when buying from an ebay selller.
_________________
currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .

Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl

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